Apparatus for feeding elastic material to sewing machines



Dec. 6, 1960 APPARATUS FOR Filed Aug. 29. 1957 B. PoNs 2,962,988

FEEDING ELASTIC MATERIAL T0 SEWING MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 o c lo 0"@New H l A lu o 2o a1 05 al 24 1h13@ 04Y n2. l A l I \o2 E 42a 144 Il a*33 44552 i 5e |01 'OZ 51 l I' I 54% 9 gg gj e5 60 9| 9b el al s4 8 el lIU a l IIO k E25/:FZ 95 loo \ |07 BENI/41N DONS, se INVENTOR 9% aml@ BYvO G ATTORNEYS Dec. 6, 1960 B. PoNs 2,962,988

APPARATUS FOR FEEDING ELASTIC MATERIAL TO SEWING MACHINES Filed Aug. 29,1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 `Q ,65 A sglg BENIAMxN PoNib INVENTOR BY am me,@www ATTORNEYS United States Patent() rfee APPARATUS FOR FEEDING ELASTICMATERIAL TO SEWING MACHINES Benjamin Pons, Valdese, N.C., assignor toAlba Hosiery Mills, Inc., Valdese, N.C., a corporation of North Y`Carolina Filed Aug. 29, 1957, Ser. No. 681,063

1 Claim. (Cl. 112-2) This invention relates to a device for impartingtension to an elastic band by elongating the elastic band prior to itsVbeing sewed on fabric and maintaining the same in elongated conditionwhile being secured to fabric by a sewing operation, thereby creating aneffective gripping surface on the fabric when it is'used as wearingapparel.

The device for elongating and maintaining the elastic band materialunder tension is adapted to be mounted on a sewing machine of the typein which the material being stitched is arranged to be supported and fedthrough the sewing machineby feeding disks adapted to engage theopposite faces of the material directly beneath the path ofreciprocation of the needle.

One basic application of the device is in the manufacture of ladiesundergarments in which elastic material is sevved on the waist portionof the garment to provide a suitable gripping means for maintaining thegarment in the desired position on the wearer. In the absence of theelastic material being elongated and sewn while in el-ongatedconditionon the garment, it is apparent that the garment will not lit properlysince the stitching securing the elasticmaterial will prevent theelastic material from stretchingV or elongating.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a device to. elongatethe elastic band material as it is fed to feeding disks of a sewingmachine, the device being so `constructed as to maintain vthe elasticmaterial in elongated condition within predetermined limits at alltimes.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device for feedingelastic material in elongated condition with means for adjusting andvarying the degree of elongation of the elastic material in accordancewith the result desired. A

A more specic object of the invention is to provide a device forelongating elastic material and maintaining the same under tension whilebeing fed to a sewing machine which comprises a pair of rollers, one ofwhich is adapted to be rotated ata predetermined surface speed of lessthan the surface speed of the feeding -disks on the sewing machine.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objectswill appear as the description proceeds when taken in connection withthe accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a view in perspectiveshowing the sewing machine with the elastic tensioning device attachedthereto;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary elevational view looking in the direction ofarrow 2 in Figure 1 Land showing the elastic tensioning device;

FigureY 3 is a top plan view of the elastic tensioning device;

Figure 4 is a vertical view, partially in section, taken along line 4-4in Figure 3 and showing the details of a clutch mechanism;

Figure 5 is a horizontal cross-sectional View taken along line 5 5 inFigure 4 and showing the specific clutch mechanism employed. Y

Referring to Figure l, the numeral 10 indicates a sewing machine ofconventional construction having a vertically extending standard 11 andan upper overhanging arm 12 depending therefrom. The sewing machinelikewise is provided with a front feeding disk 13 and a rear feedingdisk 14 through which fabric is adapted t-o be fed as it is sewn. Thisinvention contemplates the use of a device for elongating and impartingtension to an elastic band E as it is fed to the front and rear feedingdisks 13 and 14. This elastic tensioning device is indicated generallyby reference numeral 20 and comprises a pair of rollers 21 and 22.Rollers 21 and 22 are of knurled construction to thereby providegripping surfaces for an elastic band which is to be fed therebetween tothe feeding disks 13 and 14 of the sewing machine 10. l

Roller 21 is an idler roller which is spring pressed into engagementwith roller 22 by means of a horizontally disposed sp-ring urged arm 23on one end of which it is rotatively mounted by means of a bolt or stud24 loosely extending through the idler roller 21. To secure the stud 24to the arm 23, a lock nut 25 is secured to the lower end of the stud 24below the arm 23.

At the opposite end of arm 23 from that upon which idler roller 21 ismounted, a collar member 26 which includes a guide portion 27 ispositioned. The guide por tion 27 is formed with an aperture thereinthrough which the elastic band E is fed to properly position it forpassage between the knurled rollers 21 and 22.

Extending through a centrally positioned, vertically dis-. posed bore incollar member 26 is a vertical stationary shaft 30 to which collarmember 26 is secured as by a set screw 31 to remain stationarytherewith. The stationary shaft 3i) serves as a supporting standard fora group of elements which are apertured to receive shaft 30 for verticalalignment thereon. Beginning with the rst of these elements below thecollar member 26 (as best shown in Figure 4), the horizontally disposedarm 23, previously described, is provided with a hub-like portion 32extending outwardly from the upper surface thereof attthe end of arm 23remote from that upon which idler rollerl 21 is mounted. The hub-likeportion 32 has a vertical bore therein to loosely receive stationaryshaft 30. On the lower surface of arm 23, and joined thereto there is atubular sleeve 33 which is received by shaft 30 and ex tends downwardly.Connected to the tubular sleeve 33 at its lowermost portion is ahorizontally disposed plate 34 which extends laterally in the samegeneral direction as horizontally disposed arm 23 away from tubularsleeve 33, Plate 34 has a generally triangular configuration (as bestshown in Figure 3) As shown in Figure 4, arm 23, hub portion 32, tubularsleeve 33, and plate 34 are integral (although they may be separateelements, rigidly joined together), and these elements are mounted toswivel as a unit about stationary shaft 30 in response to springpressure in a manner to be subsequently described.

Spaced below horizontally disposed plate 34 is a lower plate member 3Swhich is also horizontally disposed and is shaped substantially in theform of a T. The top of Y the VT in plate member 35 includes a tubularhub portion extending upwardly at each en d thereof designated at 36 and37, respectively. Hub portion 36 receives the lower end of stationaryshaft 30 and abuts the lower end of tubular sleeve 33 adjacent itsconnection with plate 34, A set screw 40 is threaded through anintermediate por; tion of hub 36 into engagement with shaft 30 torestrain VPatented Dec. 6, 1960 3 lower plate member 35 and its hubportions 36, 37 against movement and maintain them stationary. Hubportion 36 acts as a base to support the vertically extending shaft 30.

Roller 22 4is drivingly mounted on shaft 41 for rotation therewith. Asshown in Figure 4, knurled roller 22 has a top disk-like member 42 and abottom disk-like member 43 secured thereto by suitable means, such asscrews S. These disk-like members 42 and 43 have a diameter somewhatgreater than the diameter of roller 22 and protrude radially outwardlytherefrom to a limited extent thereby providing a guide for the elasticband E as it is fed between the rollers 21 and 22. Below the drivenrollei 22, the rotatable shaft 41 extends through hub portion 37 onplate 35 and a clutch assembly 60. A space is provided between hubportion 37 and shaft 41 to receive a bearing 51, as subsequentlydescribed.

Idler roller 21 is spring pressed into engagement with driven roller 22by the following arrangement. A coiled spring 44 is attached at one endto the triangular plate 34 at a point remote from tubular sleeve 33which extends upwardly from plate 34. The opposite end of spring 44extends through an aperture formed in the head of a threaded bolt 45.Bolt 45, in turn, passes freely through an aperture formed in avertically extending post 46 mounted on the cross-leg of T-shaped plate35. An adjustment nut 47 is threaded onto the end of bolt 45 and is heldby the tension of spring 44 against the post 46 to secure the bolt 45 ina predetermined position on the post 46, thereby permitting theregulation of the tension induced in spring v44. As viewed in Figure 2,upon turning the nut 47 on the threaded bolt 45 to make the nut 47 movetoward the right, the bolt 45 is automatically pulled under theinfluence of spring 44 to again position the adjustment nut 47 againstthe post 46, thereby decreasing the degree of tension in spring 44. Inthis manner, the tension in spring 44 may be adjusted as desired bysimply turning the nut y47 on the threaded bolt 45 to make the nut 47move in either direction.

Plate 35 remains stationary at all times, but as pointed out previously,triangular plate member 34, tubular sleeve 33, and arm 23 may swivel asa unit with respect to stationary shaft 30. This swivelling movement isbrought about through the action of the spring 44. Since the spring 44is attached at one end to triangular plate 34, when placed under tensionit pulls the end of the triangular plate 34 to which it is attachedtoward the post 46. Consequently, the tubular sleeve 33 and arm 23 arecaused to swivel about stationary shaft 30. Under the action of spring44, the arm 23 is pivoted about its end which receives stationary shaft30 causing the end mounting idler roller 21 to swing in a directiontoward driven roller 22 thereby holding idler roller 21 against driveni'oller 22. This relationship insures a positive adjustable pressureengagement between spring pressed idler roller 21 and the driven roller22.

The mechanism for imparting a predetermined rate of rotation to shaft 41thereby driving knurled roller 22 may be of any known type. For purposesof illustratiton, Figure 4 shows one form of a clutch means for drivingshaft 41. It is apparent that other forms may be resorted to withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention.

In Figure 4, the clutch assembly is shown broadly by reference numeral60 and consists of a clutch housing 61 to which a bearing housing 50 isattached at the upper end. The bearing housing 50 has a cylindrical boreppreciably larger than the diameter of shaft 41 to house a bearing 51 ofa common sleeve type therein. At the upper end of bearing 51 there is acollar 52 held on the shaft 41 by a set screw 53. The bearing 51 isretained from rotating with shaft 41 by a set screw 54 extending throughthe bearing housing 50 into contact with the bearing 51. The'hub portion37 on plate 35 surrounds bearing 51 and is suitably secured thereto bymeans such as a set screw 55. Within the clutch housing 61 there is 4 adrum 62 held on the shaft 41 by set screw 63. Drum 62 contains an upperand lower annular recess shown at 64 and 65, respectively. In each ofthese recesses there is a clutch mechanism 66 (as more specificallyshown in Figure 5) to provide a predetermined rate of rotation to shaft41.

Each of the clutch mechanisms 66 consists of a triangular plate 70 oneach side of which is a roller element 71. Each roller element is springurged by means of a coiled spring 72 against a cylindrical surface ofdrum 62 which defines the outer boundary of the respective recess 4inwhich the particular clutch mechanism 66 is held. Each spring 72 isseated against a plate 73 secured to one angle of the triangular plate70 and is held in position by a pin 74 extending through a plurality ofthe spring coils. The operation of this clutch assembly will besubsequently described.

An actuating lever encloses the lower end of the clutch housing 61.`Immediately below the actuating lever S0, there is a collar member 81which receives a reduced diameter portion of shaft 41 and is securedthereto by suitable means, such as set screw 82. Thus, shaft 41 isprovided with an upper collar member 52 and a lower collar member 81secured thereto to maintain the bearing housing 50, the bearing 51, andthe clutch assembly 60 in proper position on shaft 41.

The actuating lever S0 is generally circular and includes a ange portion83 extending outwardly therefrom provided with an upturned outer endportion 84. The driving mechanism to impart rotation to shaft 41 throughthe clutch assembly 60 is shown broadly by reference numeral 9). Morespecifically, the driving mechanism includes a reciprocating rod 91connected to the upturned end 84 of actuating lever 80 by suitable meanssuch as a stud and lock nut arrangement 92. On the opposite end of thereciprocating rod 91, there is a connector element 93 secured bysuitable means, such as a bolt and nut arrangement 94 to the lower endof a rocker arm 95. The rocker arm 95 includes a. lower elongate groove96 and an upper elongate groove 97 on either end thereof to provide antdjustable mounting for the members connected to the rocker arm 9S.Intermediately positioned of the ends of rocker arm 95, there isprovided a suitable pivot point, such as a stud 100, received by therocker arm 95. The rocker arm 95 is adapted to pivot about stud 100 toimpart a reciprocatory motion to rod 91. Connected to the upper end ofthe rocker arm 95 by a connector element 101 is an eccentrically mountedarm 102. The eccentrically mounted arm 102 is likewise connected at itsopposite end by a connector element 103 to a drive cup 104 suitablyconnected to the conventional drive wheel 105 of the sewing machine 10.

The arm 102 is mounted eccentrically with respect to the axis of drivecup 104. The drive wheel 105 of the sewing machine 10 is adapted to berotated by any suitable power source through means of a belt 106. Abracket 107 is attached to the side of sewing machine 10 by bolts 110and carries the linkage mechanism 90 thereon through the stud aboutwhich rocker arm 9S pivots.

The band of elastic material E is adapted to be fed to the tensioningdevice 20 and the feeding disks 13 and 14 of the sewing machine 10 froma suitable source of supply shown in Figure l as a spool 111 containingthe elastic material E wound thereon. The spool 111 is mounted on astand 112. A table T is provided on which the stand 112 is mountedtogether with the sewing machine 10.

Since the elastic band E must be placed under tension and therebystretched or elongated in the area between the feeding disks 13 and 14of the sewing machine 10 and the knurled rollers 21 and 22 of thetensioning device 20, it is apparent that the rate at which the elasticband E is fed from the knurled rollers 21 and 22 must be somewhat slowerthan the rate at which the feeding disks 13 and 14 of the sewing machine10 feed the stretched or elongated elastic band E and the fabric onwhich it is to be sewn through the sewing machine 10. If the operatorattempted to feed the elastic band E from the knurled rollers 21 and 22at the same rate of feeding speed adopted by feeding disks 13 and'14 ofthe sewing machine 10, no increase in the length of the elastic band Eby stretching or elongating it to create tension therein could bemaintained in the area between the two sets of feeding mechanisms.Accordingly, the rate at which the elastic band E is fed from theknurled rollers 21 and 22 must be somewhat less than the rate at whichthe tensioned elastic band E and fabric are fed from the feeding disks13 and 14 of the sewing machine to compensate for the increased lengthof the elastic band E when it is placed under tension if the operatordesires to maintain a constant tension in the elastic band E as it issewn on the fabric.

When the sewing machine 10 is placed in operation, by supplying asuitable source of power to turn the belt 106 and consequently the drivewheel 105 and drive cup 104 associated therewith, the eccentric mountingof arm 102 on drive cup 104 causes a somewhat oscillatory motion to beimparted to arm 102. When arm 102 is set in motion, rocker arm 95 pivotsabout stud 100 to impart a reciprocatory motion to rod 91. Rod 91through its connection with actuating lever 80 oscillates lever 80,thereby setting the clutch assembly 60 in operation to rotate shaft 41and consequently roller 22 of tensioning device 20 at a predeterminedspeed.

The clutch assembly 60 operates in the following manner to rotate shaft41. Referring to Figure 4 of the drawing, the clutch assembly 60comprises an upper and a lower clutch mechanism 66. The function of thelower clutch mechanism 66 will be described first. The triangular plate70 of the lower clutch mechanism 66 is rigidly secured on its lowersurface to the actuating lever 80. Upon each stroke of reciprocating rod91 (from right to left as shown in Figure 2) the actuating lever 180 onwhich the triangular plate 70 of the lower clutch mechanism 66 is xedlymounted will move the triangular plate 70 against the action of springs72 to thereby wedge each of the rollers 71 between one side of thetriangular plate 70 and the cylindrical wall bounding the lower recess65 formed in the drum 62. Drum 62, being mounted on shaft 41 to rotatetherewith by means of set screw 63 will be caused to revolve apredetermined amount by this wedging action which will rotate the shaft41 also.

Referring to the upper clutch mechanism 66, the triangular plate 70 ofthis mechanism is rigidly secured to the lower end of stationary bearing51. The rollers 71 associated with the triangular plate 70 of the upperclutch mechanism 66 grip the cylindrical wall bounding the upper recess64 formed in the drum 62 upon movement of reciprocating rod 91 in theopposite direction to prevent rotation of the drum 62 and consequentlythe shaft 41 constrained to move therewith when the reciprocating rod 91completes its cycle by moving in the opposite direction (from left toright as shown in Figure 2). During this period of the cycle, theactuating lever 80 and consequently the triangular plate 70 of the lowerclutch mechanism 66 will be moved in a direction to free the rollers 71from their wedging relationship with the cylindrical wall bounding thelower recess 65 formed in the drum 62. Thus, the clutch assembly 60functions to permit intermittent rotation o-f shaft 41.

By suitably adjusting the connecting elements 93 and 101 with respect tothe elongate grooves 96 and 97 formed in rocker arm 95, the length ofthe stroke of reciprocating rod 91 may be changed to obtain variedspeeds of rotation for shaft 41. Consequently, roller 22 driven by shaft41 may assume varied speeds of rotation thereby allowing an operator topredetermine the feeding speed of the tensioning device 20 by adjustingthe stroke 6 of the reciprocating rod 91 as desired. Once this is done,the roller 22 will rotate at a particular speed and in conjunction withidler roller 21 will feed the elastic band E at the predetermined rate.It should be clear that by varying the feeding speed of the tensioningdevice 20, the amount of tension retained in the elastic band E as it issewn on the fabric may also be varied, the only requirement being thatthe feeding speed of the tensioning device 20 must be somewhat less thanthat of feeding disks 13 and 14 to maintain a tension in the elasticband E.

This invention, therefore, allows a garment to be seamed while, at thesame time, introducing an elastic band under tension by elongating orstretching it to thereby insure a proper gripping surface for thegarment when it is worn. Although this invention has been described withreference to the manufacture of ladies undergarments and with a sewingmachine having a pair of feeding disks, it is susceptible of use in themanufacture of other articles and with sewing machines of other types.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferredembodiment of the invention and, although specific terms are employed,they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not forpurposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in theclaim.

I claim:

In a sewing machine having a pair of opposed feeding disks rotatableabout vertical axes for receiving a fabric therebetween in performing asewing operation thereon, improved means for feeding an elastic band inelongated tensioned condition to said feeding disks comprising anelastic band engaging device positioned adjacent the sewing machine onthe intake side of said feeding disks, whereby the portion of theelastic band between said feeding disks and the device may be elongatedto place it under tension, said elastic band engaging device cornprisinga pair of rollers having vertical axes between which the elastic band isadapted to be fed, said pair of rollers being horizontally alined withsaid feeding disks for feeding the elastic band thereto in a straighthorizontally disposed path of travel, one of said pair of rollers havingcircular anges on its opposite ends of enlarged diameter to defineguideways for the edges of the elastic band, said circular flangesrespectively overlapping the opposite ends of the other roller forrestricting the elastic band to movement between said pair of rollers ina predetermined horizontally disposed path, a vertical shaft upon whichsaid one roller is mounted for movement therewith, a vertical stationarystandard spaced from said shaft and parallel thereto, a tubular sleeveloosely receiving said standard, said tubular sleeve having a horizontalarm extending outwardly from its upper end portion and a horizontalplate parallel to said arm and in substantial alinement therewithextending outwardly from the lower end portion of said sleeve, saidother roller being rotatably mounted on the end of said arm remote fromsaid sleeve for arcuate movement about said standard into and out ofengagement with said one roller, a plate member Xed to said standardbelow said horizontal plate in parallel relation thereto, a verticalpost on said fixed plate member disposed on the side of said one rollerremote from said other roller, a threaded horizontally extending boltpenetrating said post, an adjustment nut threadably received on one endof the bolt extending through said post, a coiled tension spring havingits opposite ends connected to said horizontal plate and said bolt, saidnut being held against said post by said spring for adjustment on saidbolt to vary the pulling force applied to said other roller by saidspring for controlling the degree of engagement of the band by said pairof rollers, and means to rotate said shaft and said one roller mountedthereon to impart a predetermined slower rate of feeding of the elasticband between the pair of rollers relative to that of said feeding disksof the sewing machine to maintain the elastic band being fed to saidfeeding disks in elongated condition under substantially uniformtension.

References Cited in the le Of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 8Pearson Feb. 23, 1943 Schoij ..2 Jan. 10, 1950 Hacklander ...3- Jan. 16,1951 Pons Nov. 18, 1952 Liebowitz June 15, 1954 Liebowitz et a1 -2..June 15, 1954 Galkn Nov. 15, 1955

